Rain poured from the sky. Even the stables were damp, and the air was heavy with moisture.
Warhorses neighed around him from time to time, stamping their hooves uneasily against the ground.
Perhaps these warhorses could sense the approaching danger too... Danath Trollbane mused, holding his riding crop.
He soon led his warhorse out of the stables. Outside, the soldiers had already assembled. There was no fear on their faces; every one of them was eager for action.
"We won't miss the battle, will we, General?" a private from Stromgarde asked Danath quietly after the soldiers had been formed up.
He looked more like a boy than a man... at his age, he could hardly have fought in the Second War.
Danath knew every soldier from Stromgarde, including this boy.
"Have you fought the Horde before, Fal?" Danath asked.
"No, General... I've always looked forward to this day!" Private Fal said excitedly.
"But I haven't!" Danath replied coldly.
Warriors who had never fought the Horde would never know how terrifying it was...
Nor did Danath ever want the Dark Portal to open again.
Because that would mean they would face the Horde in battle once more.
An hour later.
Led by Commander Danath Trollbane, the soldiers of Nethergarde Keep quickly entered the trenches before the Dark Portal.
The heavy rain had left the trenches muddy, and many of the fortifications had been damaged by the rainwater...
"This isn't a good sign!" Danath frowned.
Apart from a small number of guards, Danath had brought most of Nethergarde Keep's garrison here; over two thousand brave warriors quickly spread around the entire line.
Amid the pouring rain, the Dark Portal ahead seemed so quiet that its stillness was unsettling.
"Stay alert, all of you!" Danath shouted. "We didn't come out in this